THE popular Glasgow bike hire scheme is to be expanded to new parts of the city.

 

Cycle fans have rented the 400 distinctive bright pink bikes almost 50,000 times since the scheme was launched just nine months ago.

It has been so successful that 10 new bike stations are to be set up in the south and east of the city bringing the total number to 41.

The move follows feedback from users and requests from businesses and the public.

They will be set up at transport hubs and areas of high footfall where there is likely to be most demand.

Talks are also underway with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde about expanding the scheme to include bike stations at hospital sites including the new South Glasgow Hospital.

The bikes have proved popular with commuters, students and visitors and have been spotted as far away as Loch Lomond.

The most popular cycle station is Glasgow Green closely followed by Broomielaw and Glasgow University.

Figures show the bikes are used most between Monday and Friday with a consistent drop off at weekends suggesting they are being used by commuters.

City council leader Gordon Matheson said: "The people of Glasgow and visitors have clearly embraced our cycle scheme as is borne out by the hire figures.

"The fact we are fast approaching 50,000 hires since its launch nine months ago is fantastic.

"People of Glasgow and surrounding areas have clearly taken this scheme to their hearts from the extremely positive feedback and numerous requests we have received to provide more stations around the city.

"Two of our Commonwealth Games legacy aims were to make the city more sustainable and accessible and this scheme fits the bill.

"Making it easier to get around Glasgow while reducing carbon emissions, leading to an improvement in air quality and giving people ready access to a healthy method of travel."

Glasgow Bike Station, the charity advocating mental and physical health through cycling as a means of transport won the contract to carry out all bike maintenance and service the stations around the city creating three full-time and three part-time jobs.

The new bike stations will be located at Bridgeton Cross, Duke Street at Whitehill Street, the Barrowlands, Queen's Park West, Govan Cross, Victoria Road/Calder Street, Cessnock Subway station, Gorbals leisure centre, Eglinton Toll and Paisley Road Toll.

Customers can register with the bike hire scheme as a member or as a casual user at www.nextbike.co.uk/en/glasgow.

Once registered they are provided with a login username, membership and personal identification number.

Annual subscribers are provided with a radio frequency ID card which can be swiped over the cycle's on-board computer sensor to speed up the hire process.

Annual membership costs £60 with hire costs free for the first 30 minutes and £1 an hour afterwards capped at £5 for up to 24 hours.

Hire costs for casual users are £1 for the first 30 minutes with each additional half hour costing £1 capped at £10 for five to 24 hours.